Package forming apparatus



Au'g. 10, 1937. E. E. LAKso PACKAGE FORMING APPARATUS 1l Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l0, 1955 ATTORNEYS Aug. 10, 1937. E. E. LAKso 2,089,273

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Aug. l0, 1937.V E. E. LAKso PACKAGE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1o, 1935 .ll Sheets-Sheet l0 ATTORNEYS E. E. LAKSO PACKAGE FORMING APPARATUS Aug. l0, 1937.

Filed Aug. l0, 1955 ll Sheets-Sheet ll DEGREES CAP INSERT m TR RA AE TH 5S am@ 0000 www FORMING AND INSERT SHEAR a: TAKE oFF CDNTAI INDEX CRIMPER AND CAP FEED R E L u F F 0 D N E CONTAINER lo moex INVENTOR g?, ZfwLa/Jo BY MMM'Z BACK END OF CARTON TUBE H OF EAM LENGTH OF TUBE LE'NGT ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 1o, 1937 PACKAGE FORMING APPARATUS Eino E. Lakso, Fitchburg, Mass., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The Grdler Corporation, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Delaware Application August 10,

20 Claims.

My present invention relates primarily to the manufacture of packages of plastic material, and in the embodiment illustrated the containers are filled as they are being formed rather than being filled after the forming is completed, and as a separate operation, although the novel features of the container forming apparatus may, if desired, be employed to make the containers to be later filled with any material.

The apparatus is well suited for automatically packaging various types of plastic materials which are sufiiciently hard to be form retaining and at the time suiiiciently soft to be extruded in filling the package. As an example of such plastic material, I have particularly in mind edible materials which are normally liquid at body temperature, such as partially frozen ice cream, 'sherbet, water ice or the like, and which may be formed into packages of any predetermined andy definite volume.

As one feature of the invention improved means are provided whereby separate blanks are fed in succession, bent to tubular form, the opposite edges sealed together' and bottoms attached.

As a further feature I provide improved means for feeding and bending the blanks.

As a further feature I provide improved means for sealing the edges after the tube or peripheral wall is formed by the blank.

As a further feature I provide improved means for feeding blanks to form the bottom, applying them to the peripheral wall and ejecting the container.

As a further feature I provide a hollow mandrel around which the Wall blank is bent, so that I may utilize this mandrel for the delivery of the filling material to the tube as the latter is fed oi the end of the mandrel.

As a further feature I deliver separate blanks `in end to end relationship so as to form what is in effect a continuous tube, and as the latter is filled, the separate sections formed of the separate blanks are moved laterally after being lled. so that the continuous body of filling material is sheared off by this relative movement of the sections of the walls, and no separate subdividing means are required. The wall of the sections may be formed from a continuous strip of sheet material partially but not completely cut transversely into sections. Thus only slight severing of the sheet is required after filling.

As a further feature of the invention the filling tube, which may constitute the mandrel or a part thereof, is given a reciprocating movement so 1935, Serial No. 35,565

that during the backward movement the filling material is sucked back from the end of the container tube or peripheral Wall so that a bottom wall may be fitted into the end of the peripheral wall as distinguished from fltting over as a cap.

In the embodiment of the invention hereinafter described more in detail, the plastic material is continuously forced under pressure through the ller tubefrom any suitable source of supply, such for instance as a continuous freezer of the type illustrated in Vogt Patents Nos. 1,783,864, 1,783,866 and 1,783,867.

Blanks for forming the peripheral wall may be of stiff cardboard or the like, and are arranged in a magazine adjacent the mandrel. They are successively carried into position, bent about the mandrel, and adhesive material is applied to at least one edge of each blank as it is shifted from the blank supply magazine into position for bending. The blanks are then brought to tubular form about the mandrel with the adhesive bearing edge of the blank overlapping the opposite edge thereof, and pressure is exerted on the overlapped edges to complete the sealing of the cylinder.

The blanks are slid axially along the mandrel and over the discharge end of the filler tube, the latter being preferably of the same outside diameter as the mandrel and connected to a smaller inlet section of the ller tube which is axially slidable within the mandrel. As the filler moves back the container is filled with the plastic material emanating from the filler tube.

By reason of the axial movement of the ller tube, relative movement of the entire bar of ice cream contained within and projecting` beyond the tube is effected with respect to the series of tubular containers which encircle the mandrel. By' proper timing of the blank movement and the tube movement, the leading end of the filling material is drawn back from the terminal end of the last container section in order to provide a space for the application of an internal closure cap.

With the peripheral wall completely lled with the material, except for the space at the leading end thereof, a capping mechanism moves into position in axial alignment with the feed tube and forces a flanged cap into the end of the container to form the bottom of the container. This capping mechanism is then shifted laterally to a position where it receives another cap and to provide clearance for a crimping mechanlsm axially aligned with the filler tube and movable into engagement with the end of the capped container to lock the' cap in the container by spinning or crimping.

Thereafter the crimping mechanism is retracted axially and a shear or take-off mechanism 5 engages the lled container and moves it in a lateral direction, cleanly shearing the plastic bar at the line of abutment of successive wall sections, whereupon the next filled section moves into position to be capped and similarly operated 10 upon.

Preferably the machine is entirely automatic. A single set of cams may control, in properly timed sequence, the movement of the filler tube, the feeding of the cylinder forming blanks, the 15 gluing, folding and sealing of these blanks, the

advance of the blanks, the supply of bottoms, the

movement of the bottom applying mechanism into and out of alignment with the filled sections, the insertion of the bottoms or ends, withdrawal 20 of the bottom applying mechanism, axial movement, of the crimping mechanism and rotary movement of the crimpers, withdrawal of the crimping mechanism, and the operation of the take-away or shearing mechanism.

As previously noted a machinel having many features of my invention is capable of forming the containers without lling them. In such a machine the lling tube may be omitted or the machine may be operated without any filling material being supplied.

The machine ris so designed that it occupies but a comparatively small amount of space, all the various moving parts being compactly arranged and all of such parts being disposed :rela- 35 tively closely adjacent the control or timing mechanism, to the end that the attachment of the various movable parts to the control cams may be simply effected without the need for using long lever trains or complex shafting and gearing.

40 Merely as an example, my improved machine may be employed for manufacturing the'type of package shown in the Vogt Patent 2,051,923, issued August 25, 1936.

The invention may be more fully understood 45 from the following description in connection 'with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view mainly in side elevation of a machine embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view 50 through such machine,

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged view in longitudinal section through the central portion of the machine illustrating more particularly the paper 55 blank folding or clamping mechanism and the closure cap applying mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly in `side elevation showing the .blank feeding mechanism in the opposite extreme position from the 60 position illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view showing part of the paper blank feeding mechanism, this view being taken approximately on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view 65 through the glue applying mechanism and associated parts taken approximately on the line 6 6 of Fig. 7,

' Fig. 7 is an enlarged view partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation on the line 'll-l 70 of Fig. 6 showing the actuating mechanism for the adhesiveapplying means and for the paper blank shifting mechanism,

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on the staggered line 8 8 of Fig. 7,

75 Fig. 9 is a sectional detail showing part of the main drive mechanism and taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 10 is a somewhat diagrammatic transverse sectional view on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 2 showing the various cams mounted on the master cam shaft,

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the cams taken on the line II-H of Fig. 1 showing the connection of the end cams to the devices which are operated thereby,

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the mechanism for actuating the folding clamps and illustrating in dotted lines the uppermost position of the pressure clamp which completes the blank folding operation,

Fig. 13 is a view on the line I3 l3 of Fig. 12 showing the folding clamps in open position,

Fig. 14 is a generally similar view on the line ifi-M of Fig. 12, but omitting the operating mechanism for the clamps and showing them in closed position to complete the folding of the cylindrical blank about the mandrel,

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail view illustrating the position of the blank after it has been folded around the mandrel and before the pressure clamp has descended to complete folding of the overlapped blank edges and press said overlapped edges adhesively together.

Fig. 16 is a side elevational detail of the drag clamps or indexing clamps which engage the formed container and .advance the series of containers along the mandrel and onto the discharge end of the ller tube,

Fig. 1'7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on the line Il l'l of Fig. 16,

Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional view on the line id l of Fig. 16, K

Fig. 19 is a transverse sectional view on the line i9 l9 of Figs. 2 and 16 showing in section the pressure bar which maintains the blanks folded as they traverse the mandrel and ller tube,

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of the mechanism for adjusting the pressure on this bar, said view being taken on line 20 20 of Fig. 19,

Fig. 21 is a transverse sectional view on the line- 2I-2l of Fig. 2 showing in cross section the acy tuating bar for the drag clamps,

Fig. 22 is a sectional detail of the tilting clamp which prevents rotation of the cylindrical container during capping and spinning. this view being taken on the line 22-22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 23 is a transverse sectional view on the line 23-23 of Fig. 2 showing the capper shifted laterally out of registration with the cap magazine and into alignment with the ller tube and container to be capped,

Fig. 24 is a vertical sectional view through the cap blank hopper and cap forming and applying mechanism taken on line 2t-24 of Fig. 23 and showing thecapper in registry with the hopper,

Fig. 25 is a vertical sectional view on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24, showing the take-off or shear mechanism in position to engage and remove a formed and lled package,

Fig. 26 is a transverse sectional view through the cap magazine on the line 26 25 of Fig. 24,

Fig. 27 is a side elevational view of the package take-off mechanism,

' Fig. 28 is a view on the line 28--28 of Fig. 25 showing this device partly in elevation and all of the operating mechanism therefor in section,

Fig. 29 is a transverse sectional view on the line 29 29 of Fig. 2 showing the operating mechanism for shifting the cap forming and lling mechanism into and out of alignment with the hopper and for reciprocating the cap applying plunger. The dotted lines in this view illustrate the position of the parts just before a cap is fed to the cap applying mechanism from the hopper,

Fig. 30 is a transverse sectional view on the line 30-30 of Fig. 29,

Fig. 31 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3I-3I of Figs. 2 and 28,

Figs. 32, 33, 34 and 35 are somewhat diagrammatic views partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the successive operations of the take-off mechanism, capping mechanism and crimping mechanism and their relationship to the filler tube movement and container indexing,

Fig. 36 is-an enlarged sectional detail through the crimping head showing the way in which the container'is crimped or beaded to lock the cap in position,

Fig. 37 is a longitudinal sectional view throughv an adaptor fixture which may replace the filler tube when the machine is merely used for forming containers Without lling them,

Fig. 3 8 is a diagram showing the timing of the cams and graphically illustrating the manner in which the paper blank feed mechanism, the blank folding mechanism, the cap forming and inserting mechanism, the shear and take-off mechanism, the container index or feeding mechanism, the filler tube, the crimper and the cap feeding mechanism are properly relatively timed in order to effect the completion and removal of one package at each revolution vof the cam shaft.

Fig. 39 is another diagram indicating the relative positions of the end of the filler tube and the trailing end of the container throughout one complete cycle or one complete revolution of the cam shaft.

In order that the ensuing description of the structural details of the various parts of the machine may be more readily understood I shall first describe the general sequence Aof operations and the general arrangement of the various mechanisms which constitute the machine without reference to how such mechanisms are operated, or their relative timing.

General assembly Before describing the machine in detail an understanding of the general assembly and general arrangement of parts may be had from Figs. '1 and 2. Supported on a suitablebase 40 is the main frame 4| of the machine, this frame providingbearings for a horizontally disposed, transversely. extending cam shaft 42 on which the six main cams (Figs. 10 and 11) are keyed. The cam shaft bearings are shown at 43 (Fig. 10) and the cams are consecutively numbered for future reference as 44 to 49 inclusive.

'I'he main shaft or cam shaft 42 may be driven in any suitable manner as for instance from a motor through a conventional Reeves drive indicated generally at 5I, the Reeves drive determining the speed of rotation of a gear 51a on a counter shaft 52 'carrying a pinionr 53 which meshes with gear teeth 54 arranged on the outer surface of the cam 44.

Fixedly mounted on the frame 4| at a higher elevation than the cams and their shaft is a horizontally disposed hollow mandrel 55, slidable within the mandrel is the smaller inlet section 56 of a two-section filler tube through which plastic material is adapted to be forced under pressure. 'Ihetube section 56 has llmitedsliding movement within the mandrel and is coupled to a larger section 51 projecting beyond the end of the mandrel and of external diameter corresponding to the external diameter of the mandrel whereby this tube section 51 forms in eiect an extension of the mandrel.

A magazine 58 is loaded with a series of rectangular paper blanks 59 and suitable mechanism to be later described engages the foremost blank in the magazine `and advances it to a position directly under the mandrel 55, one edge of the blank in the course of this movement having adhesive material applied thereto by gluing mechanism which will be described more fully hereafter.

'I'he cross sectional view of Fig. 13 shows one of these paper blanks 59 arranged under the forming mandrel and it also shows the two folding jaws 6D which engage this blank and warp it around the mandrel in cylindrical form as indicated in Fig. 15 with the ends of the blank overlapping. Thereupon a presser foot 6| descends upon these overlapped edges and presses together to afford firm adhesion.

As the formed cylinders are drawn along the mandrel and drawn along over the feed tube extension 51, the adhesively connected overlap of the tubes or cylinders is always maintained under pressure, a spring clamp 62 serving this purpose during the major portion of travel of the formed cylinders and a second tilting clamp 63 exerting pressure upon the overlapped parts of the cylindrical paper bodies -up until the time that they actually advance beyond the feed tube and are filled with the plastic substance.

The indexing means for advancing the formed cylinders includes a reciprocating drag clamp structure indicated generally at 64, the jaws 65 of this clamp being disposed at opposite sides of the mandrel and normally tending to move inwardly against the mandrel or against the paper cylinder which encircles it. The range of reciprocating movement of the drag clamps 64 is equal to the length of one of the formed cylinders so that as the clamp moves to the left from the position of Fig. 1, the jaws will engage behind the last formed cylinder and as the clamp moves to the right, back to the position shown in Fig. 1, the entire line of cylinders on the mandrel and the feed tube'extension will be advanced by the push of the last cylinder engaged by the jaws.

A conduit 66 continuously delivers a plastic substance to be packaged into the smaller section 56 of the ller tube, this conduit receiving material from any suitable source of supply such for instance as a continuous ice cream freezer of the type illustrated in Vogt Patents Nos. 1,783,864, 1,783,866 and 1,783,867.

Since the machine is intended not only to :dll the cylinders with ice cream but also to insert an end closure into one end of each cylinder and crimp this closure in position and furthermore, since it is desirable that the end of the cylinder which receives the cap should be devoid of cream when the cap is applied, it is necessary that the filler tube itself be axially movable. If for instance the tube is drawn to the left from the position of Fig. 2 at the proper rate of speed, the cream will continue to emerge from the end thereof but the leading end of the extruded bar will remain stationary with respect to the rest of the machine. Also, if this retractile move'- ment of the feed vtube is accelerated, the leading end of the bar will actually be retracted with respect to the paper cylinder which encircles it in order to leave the desired amount of space Cil at the end of the cylinder for the reception of the cap.

Arranged beyond the end of the feed tube and laterally thereof is a cap blank magazine 69 (Figs. 23 and 24) containing a plurality of circular cap blanks 10. A cap transferring and applying mechanism indicated generally at 'H is mounted to slide back and forth from a positionA under the magazine where it receives one of the cap blanks into a position in axial alignment with the end of the filler tube in which position a plunger member 'l2 thrusts the cap blank into the end of the leading filled cylinder.

As the cap is thrust home a forming die 13 associated with the plunger (Fig. 33) forms a flange on the cap, whereupon the plunger is withdrawn and the cap transferring and applying mechanism shifted laterally out of alignment with the feed tube andv back into position under the cap magazine. Thereupon, a crimper carriage lf3 mounting a motor l5 which drives a rotary crimping head 'i5 axially aligned with the feed tube, is shifted axially, bringing the rotating head into operative engagement with the end of the capped container and crimping the cap in place (preferably by forming a cap flange engaging bead on the end of the container).

Thereafter the crimping mechanism is axially withdrawn to the position of Fig. 2 and a swingable package take-off or shear member 'ill (Figs. 23 and 25) engages the filled and capped cylindrical container and shifts it laterally with respect to the filler tube to discharge position, the package being automatically ejected from the take-olf member onto discharge chute lla prior to the return of the take-olf device for engaging the next filled and capped container. It is after the crimping of the cap that the entire forward movement of the ice cream bar and the row of cylinders occurs, this movement being cmparatively rapid and advancing the lled and capped container through a distance approximately equivalent to its own length into the cradle-like take-off device Ti. l

Figs..32 to 35 illustrate diagrammatically the sequence of operations. In Fig. 32 a completely filled, capped and crimped container A has just been projected forward into the cradle-like takeolf member ll. The crimping mechanism is axially withdrawn and the cap transferring and applying mechanism is out of registration with the feed tube and is under the cap blank magazlne.

In Fig. 33 the take-off has swung the package A to discharge position. The cap transferring and applying mechanism is shifted laterally into axial alignment with the feed tube. The retractile movement of the tube has been slightly accelerated to provide clearance for the entrance of a cap 'I0 into the mouth of the next cylinder.

Plunger 'l2 has carried this cap forward through Y the forming die 'I3 anging the cap and thrusting it into the cylinder mouth;

In Fig. 34 plunger 'I2 has been withdrawn and the cap transferring and applying mechanism has again been shifted back into position under the cap blank magazine. The crimping head has come forward and is beading the container mouth over to lock the cap in position. While these operations have been taking place it will be observed that the filler tube has been slowly retracted at a. correct rate of speed to prevent any relative movement between the leading end of the ice cream bar and the other parts of the machine. In other words this leading end remains stationary during the capping and crimping'.

In Fig. 35 the crimper is withdrawn; the takeloif is in position to receive the next package and the filler tube is nearly withdrawn from the newly formed and capped package. At the time that this feed tube fully withdraws to the position shown in Fig. 32, the filler tube and the entire line of cylindrical containers are rapidly advanced through a. distance equal to the length'of a single container, thereby again moving the filled container A into the take-off which by a lateral swinging movement carries the filled container to discharge. The only material which needs to be sheared is the plastic material and this shears cleanly. The rigid shear or take-olf device 'il and the rigid filler tube end 5l? of course facilitate the clean shearing action.

Having thus generally described the mode of operation of the apparatus, I shall now describe the various mechanisms which cooperate to form the complete machine and shall then subsequently describe the manner in which these Varlous mechanisms are actuated and timed' from the series of cams on the main shaft or cam shaft l2 of the machine.

Forming mandrel and filler tube Figs.- 1, 2 ami 3 The forming mandrel 55 is both internally and externally cylindrical. It is secured in position with respect to the main frame by cooperating clamping elements land 79 (Fig. 1). i8 isin the form of a semi-cylindrical socket integral with the main frame of the machine and element i9 is a complementary semi-cylindrical sleeve coacting with the socket to grip the mandrel. The tilting presser foot member 6l has one end pivoted at t@ in the upper clamp l5.

The feed tube section 55 is of less external diameter than the internal diameter of the mandrel 55 and is provided at intervals with an annular series of externally raised ribs i which bear against the inner face of the mandrel and guide the sliding movement of the feed tube with a minimum of friction. l

The supply pipe 65 which is of smaller diameter than the feed tube is coupled with feed tube Section 56 by a standard coupling 82. This coupling includes an internally tapered section 83 with its smaller end of the same diameter as the supply pipe 66 and its wider end of the same/ diameter as the feed tube section 55. Arranged in this coupling part is a spreader 8d for plastic material, this spreader illustratively including a generally hemispherical spider construction with its concavity presented toward the supply tube 66. 'I'he function of the member 862 is to assist in the .expansion of the relatively small diameter stream of plastic material coming from pipe 66 to al suiiicient extent so that this cream will completely lill the section 56 of the ller tube proper. j

The filler tube section 57 is coupled to the filler tube section 56 by a coupling piece 85, this iece including a reduced portion 86 snugly fitting over Element merely for permitting the formation and capping' of empty containers.

Ice cream emanating from tubesection 56 expands through the tapered inside of the coupling portion 81 and again is subjected to the action of a spreader 88 which may correspond in construction to the spreader 84. Due to the difference in diameters between ller tube section and supply pipe 66 and iiller tube sections 56 and 51, it will be apparent that even with the filler tube stationary, the speed of ilow of plastic material at the mouth of the feed tube is considerably less than the rate of ow of material through the supply pipe 66. 'I'he spreader members oppose suilicient resistance to flow to insure that the entire feed tube is maintainedfull of ice cream throughout its entire cross section at all times.

The end of the mandrel. 55 is internally socketed or cut away as at 90 to provide clearance for the reduced portion 86 of the coupling 85. This section of the mandrel is likewise provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinally extending lslots 9| coacting with corresponding raised ribs 92 on the coupling section 86 so that the coupling and the mandrel are dove-tailed to block relative rotation of the respective sections of the feed 'tube and consequent inadvertent disconnection of the bayonet slot connections 88, 89. -This dove-tailing arrangement also guards against a formed cylindrical container snagging on the feed tube section 51 or coupling 85 as a formed cylinder slides off the mandrel and'onto the feed tube.

Any suitable means may be employed for imparting the desired axial movement to the feed tube. I have illustratively shown a collar 98 encircling one end of the feed tube (and against which coupling 82 is drawn by nut 82a) and having a forked extension 95 carrying a swivelled block 96 which is engaged by the bifurcated end 91 of a crank arm "98, this crank armbeng fixed upon a shaft 99 extending transversely of the machine.

At its opposite end shaft99 carries a second crank arm |00 and a link |0| connects crank arm |00 with a crank arm |03 keyed on the outer end of a shaft |06 extending through a journal in the housing |05 for the cams. Keyed upon the inner end of the crank shaft |09 is another crank arm |06 (Fig. l1) carrying a roller |01 travelling in a cam groove |08 in the cam 99.

I have not shown the layout of the cam grooves but have instead diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 38 the timing of the various cams and of the various mechanisms which they control. It

will be observed from this figure that the motion of the filler tube consists of a long slow retraction stroke which is effective to maintain the leading end of the ice cream bar in xed relation with respect to the rest of the machine save at the one interval when a quick acceleration of the stroke actually retracts the ice cream bar with respect to the container to provide space for the cap insert. It will also be noted that the for- Ward stroke of the ller is very rapid, the filler moving forward through a distance nearly equivalent to the length of a cylindrical container just after the crimper has been withdrawn and the take-oli has moved into position to receive the container.

Cylinder blank feeding and gluing mechanism Figs. 1, 2, 3, '4, 5, 6, '7 and 13 The magazine 58 for the blanks 59 is an inclined trough-like structure against the forward face |01 of which a series of blanks are advanced by a follower plate |08 actuated by a sliding weight |09. This magazine may be supported upon cross bars H0 constituting part of the main frame of the machine. Constituting part of the front Wall of the trough-like structure are a plurality of axially shiftable blank lifting fingers each being offset intermediate its endsto provide a shoulderA ||2 -of suihcient -width to engage under the edge of the foremost blank in the magazine and these ngers serve to carry the foremost blank upwardly out of the top of the magazine from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the positionillustrated in Fig. 4. From this position the blank is advanced between pairs of curved guide rails H3 to and beyond the gluing mechanism and into the position illustrated at Fig. 13 by a set of transfer arms ||4 which engage the lower edge of the blank and shift it from .the lowermost to the uppermost position (Fig. 3).

The liiting fingers I, the transfer arms ||4 and the gluing mechanism (which I am about to describe) are all operated and controlled from' the same cam and in properly timed relationship so that the surface speed of the glue applying roll |49 (Figs. 6 and 7) is equal to the speed of travel of theblank under the impetus of the transfer arms H4.

The front wall of the blank hopper is slotted to provide clearance for the movement of brackets or lugs ||5 carried by the lifter fingers III. These brackets are pivotally connected to -the vupper ends of links H6, the lower ends of said links being pivoted to the free ends of levers ||1 y fixed on a rock shaft ||8 carried by the machine frame. The rock shaft ||8 is actuated from a shaft H9, this shaft having a crank arm |20 con- Anected by link |2| to a lever |22 having a spring lifting fingers encounter 'unexpected resistance in their upward movement due to jamming of the blank 59, the plunger |24 will slip out of its notch |25 and the connection between the shaft I9 and the lifting fingers will thus be broken.

The transfer arms I4 are pivotally mounted on the ends of elongated crank arms |26 xed on the shaft H9. Each transfer arm ||4 is spring pressed in one direction by a coiled expansion' spring |21 to an extent limited by the engagement of the tail piece |28 of the arm with the crank arm |26 in which the arm H4 is pivoted. 'I'he arms ||4 Work between or dove-tail with respect to the fingers and each arm ||4 has a bifurcated free endV |29 to straddle the lower edge of a blank which has been lifted to the position of Fig. 4 by the lifting fingers. Deep tapering notches |30 in the wall |01 of the hopper provide clearance for movement of the transfer arms ||4 so that they can engage with the lower edge of a blank which has been lifted by the fingers and advance the blank past the gluing or adhesive applying mechanism (Figs. 6 and '1) and into position (Fig. 13) to be folded into cylindrical form about the mandrel 55.

The particular number of lifting fingers `and transfer arms ||4 employed may vary with the size of the blank to be handled but in the type of machine illustrated a suiiicient number of ngers and arms are provided to eliminate the need for any edge guides for the paper blanks as they are moved from the hopper and carried into position under the mandrel.

During the movement of the blanks from the hopper into position under the mandrel, the pairs of guides H3 which are staggered with respect to the path of travel of the transfer arms H4 serve to prevent the fairly stii but flexible paper or cardboard blanks from becoming disengaged from said arms.

The two extreme positions of the shaft l la and the blank transferring mechanism which it actuates are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In Fig. 3 it will be observed that the fingers lil are in their lowermost position and that the arms l it have reached the limit of their upward swing having thrust the blank under the mandrel, in which v position its intermediate portion is sustained by the spring pressed platform l3l and its edges rest on the ends of the folding clamps t@ (Fig. 13).

As the shaft H9 is rocked in counterclockwise direction to the position Ishown in Fig. 4, it will be observed that the train of levers or links d20,

62H, B22, lll and HG have shifted the lifting iingers lil from their lowermost position to their uppermost position, these fingers wiping the foremost blank from the' stack and carrying it upwardly to a position where it clears the slots |30,

rendering its lower edge readily accessible to transfer arms l i4. As a result of this same move` ment of the shaft, the levers 26 have swung downwardly, carrying with them rthe arms liti and springs B2i have thrown these arms into the slots` i3@ of the magazine end plate and into position where upon clockwise movement of the shaft H9 they will engage the lower` edge of the blank which has just been lifted out of the magazine by the lifting ngers ill.

As previously noted, in passing from the magazine into position under the mandrel, one edge of the blank is glued and i'n order to prevent any skewing of the blank under pressure of the glue rolls, the surface speed of the glue rolls is caused to equal the speed of travel of the blank under the influence of the transfer arms lid. With this in View the glue applying roll is actuatedfrom the shaft M9.

An understanding of the glue applying apparatus and the operating mechanism for the glue rolls andv the relation of this mechanism to the shaft M9 and the means for operating the shaft il@ are most clearly apparent from Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive. Y

As best illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the shaft il@ has a gear segment H32 affixed thereto and this segment meshes with an arcuate rack H33 carried by a lever i3d xed to a rock shaft 35 journalled in the main frame. On the opposite end of the shaft H35 is a crank arm H3411 having a connection at 36 with a reciprocating bar |37 carrying a roller E38 for engagement in the groove |39 of cam t5.

A guideway le@ secured upon the cam housing guides the reciprocatory movement of the bar i3? and as this bar is reciprocated its motion will be translated into an alternating rotary motion of the shaft il@ through the medium of rack 933 and segment 32. y

A glue pot itil is removably mounted upon the main frame work of the machine. One means for effecting this removable mounting is to provide a bevelled trackway M2 as part of the main frame and to provide a correspondingly bevelled or undercut groove |43 in the bottom of the glue pot so that the latter may be slid into position on the trackway and removably secured in position as by a set screw or locking screw I 44.

Journalled transversely within the glue pot is a shaft I 45 driven from a shorter shaft H6- through the medium of a two toothed clutch arrangement Ml, the purpose of this clutch being to permit the glue pot assemblage to be removed from the machine by a sliding movement when the teeth of the two clutch members are out of horizontal alignment as shown in Fig. 6. The shaft E45 carries a roller M8 dipping into the glue pot and frictionally driving a glue applying roller M39. 'I'he edge of the paper blank passes between the top of the roller 49 and a superjacent roller 59 spaced a distance from the transfer roller, approximately corresponding to the thickness of the paper blank and exerting but slight pressure thereon.

The means for driving the transfer roller U39 at a surface speed corresponding to the speed of travel of the blank includes a relatively small pinion l5i fixed upon the shaft M16 and a relatively large gear !52 rotatable on the shaft il@ and intermittently driven by suitable means such as a ratchet and pawl mechanism from said shaft. Illustratively a ratchet plate E53 is secured as at tt to the gear segment 032 which is keyed at i515 on the shaft l l. One or more dogs or pawls H56 are pivoted on theinner face of the gear 52 and springs 55W press these dogs into engagement with the teeth i508 of the ratchet plate tt.

As seen in Fig. 7 when the ratchet blade is carried in clockwise direction by the positive movement of the shaft M9, the dog B56 serves to drive the gear l5? in clockwise direction and through the speed multiplication afforded by the gear 552 and the pinion ibi to rotate the glue wheel itt and thereby turn the transfer wheel at a surface speed corresponding to the speed. of movement of the blank. 'I'he edge of the blank passing between the transfer wheel tl@ and the pressure roller l5@ receives glue from the wheel ldd. This glue may be applied as a continuous stripe or as a row of glue spots-or in any other manner required for eective subsequent gluing together of the overlapped edegs of the blank. The term glue is of course intended to be interpreted broadly enough to include any adhesive material.

The mechanism for folding the blank about the mandrel into cylindrical form is illustrated in detail in Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive. The actual folding devices consist of the pivotcd jaw members Sil and the tilting presser foot l.

The two generally semi-circular jaws t@ have their inner ends pivotally connected to a common pivot shaft it@ and intermediate theirxends these blank folding jaws are pivotally connected at itl to the upper ends of pusher rods H52, adjustably mounted in a cross head it which has vertical sliding movement on a post 64, the upper end of which carries pivot pin ldd. To prevent rotation of the cross head with respect to the post a pin it of the cross head works through aligned slots i6@ at opposite sides of the post and the actuating member for the cross head is in the form of a rod itl slidable in the lower hollow portion of the post ist.

As best seen from Fig. 14 the lower ends of the pusher rods pass freely through openings it@ in the cross heads, suitable means such as the nuts its encircling the lower ends of the rods and engaging the under side of the cross head, limiting the u'pward movement of the pusher rods under the influence of coiled expansion springs |10 encircling the rods and disposed between the rod pivots and cross head. By virtue of this adjustable rod construction the eiective length of one pusher rod may be adjusted with respect to the length of the other pusher rod to insure that one arcuate clamp member 60 reaches its completely closed position before the other clamp does and thereby predeterrnines the direction of overlap of the edges of the cylinder forming blank 59.

With the two clamps 60 folded in their extreme uppermost position it will lbe observed (Fig. 15)

that there is still'suicient space between the ends of these clamps to permit the presser foot 6| to descend and complete the formation of the cylinder and to press the overlapped edges of the blank against each other.

The presser foot which as previously noted is hinged as at 80 to clamp member 19 is in the form of a lever which near its free end carries a pair of rubber blocks or equivalent pressure applying devices |1|. A spring plunger |12 slidable in a socket |13 in the clamp 19 works against a heel piece |14 of the presser foot lever 6| and normally maintains this lever in the position of Fig. 3. Plunger |12 is thrust into engagement with the lever heel piece by a coiled expansion spring |15, the tension of which may be conveniently adjusted byv adjustable nut |16 which serves as a reactance piece for the spring. In order to effect elevation of the lever 6| during the upward swinging movement of the folding clamps 60, the free end of this lever is pivotally connected to the upper end of a Arod |11, the rod being laterally bowed as indicated in Fig. 13 to clear the mandrel and the lower end of this lever being pivotally connected at |18 with a sleeve |19 vertically slidable on a post |80 secured to the main frame of the machine.

Pivoted intermediate its ends on the lower portion ofthe sleeve |18 is a lever |8| formed at its upper end with a detent |82 projecting into the path of upward movement of a lug |83 carried by a sleeve |84 which encircles the post |.64 and constitutes part of the cross head |63. Thus as the cross head movesupwardly to close the clamps 60, the lug |83 engages the detent |82 ol.' the lever |8| acting through this lever to elevate the sleeve |19 and thus thrust the lever |11 upwardly and tilt the presser foot 6| to the position illustratedin dotted lines in Fig. 12. Lever |8| also includes a tail piece |85 adapted for engagement with a trip member |86 so that as the folding clamps reach the completely closed position of Fig. 15, the tail piece of lever |8| is tripped by the member |86, throwing the detent 60 |82 out of engagement with the lug |83 and thus releasing sleeve |19 and permitting the presser foot to descend into blank clamping position under the impetus of the spring |15. Upon descent of the cross head |63, the lug |83 cams past the detent |82, these members being provided with bevelled faces for this purpose.

Any suitable means may be employed for vertically reciprocating the cross head |63 and thereby actuating the folding clamps, one suitable mechanism being more particularly illustrated in Gear |88 is operated by a horizontally reciprocable rack |89 carrying a roller (not shown) working in the groove |89a of the cam 46.

The hub |81 turns freely upon a short horizontal shaft |90 mounted in bearings |9| within the casing for the control cams.

The drag clamp or container indexing mechanism As above suggested, means is provided for engaging behind the rear edge of the last formed vpaper cylinder and advancing the entire line of cylinders forwardly along the mandrel and along the discharge section 514 of the ller tube. The details of this clamp mechanism are illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1, 3 and 16 to 21 and 22. A pair of bracket members 200 disposed at opposite sides of the mandrel include reduced inwardly offset ends 20| connected as by screws 202 to any suitable mechanism for reciprocating the brackets. This mechanism in the present instance consists of a slide bar A203 (Fig. 21) travelling in a trough-like horizontal guideway 204 formed in the main frame of the machine and closed by a cover 205.

The side walls of this guideway are slotted or cut away as at 206 to permit attachment of the bracket ends 20| to the slide bar and the bottom of the guideway is also cut away as at 201 to permit connection of the slide bar to its actuating means.

Any suitable means may be employed for reciprocating the slide bar and for illustrative purposes I have shown (Fig. 2) a lever 231 pivoted intermediate its ends at 239 in a bracket 238 forming part of the main frame. The lower end of this lever carries a cam roller 240 working in the cam groove 24| in the cam 41 and the upper end of this lever is connected by a link 242 to a pendant extension 243 of the slide bar 203, such extension working in the slot or cut-away 201 (Fig. 2l)

As best seen in Figs. 17 and 18 the bracket members 200 at their wider ends lie'substantially parallel with the axis of the mandrel. At theirl wider extremities they present inwardly directed integral ears or lugs 208-209 disposed at the tops and bottoms of the brackets respectively. Platelike dog members 2| 0 disposed at opposite sides of the mandrel are pivotally mounted within the ears 208-209 of the respective brackets 200. These members are provided at their pivoted ends with inwardly directed ears 2| fulcrumed on inwardly extending pins 2|2 carried by the ears 208-209. The free ends of the members 2|0 are inwardly Iianged, as indicated at 2|3, the edges of these anges following the circular contour of the mandrel.

Springs 2|4 xed upon the brackets 200 urge the dogs inwardly against the mandrel and the free edges of the flanges 2|3 are bevelled as at 2|5 (Fig. 17) so that as the dogs move to the left yfrom the position of Fig. 1'1 they will ride over the edge of a cylindrical blank which has been formed on the mandrel but as they are drawn to the right they will engage behind the edge of the blank and drag this blank along the mandrel.

The particular fulcrum arrangement for the plate-like dogs 2|0 is of importance because it is desirable that when the clamp member moves to the right the natural tendency of the free ends of the dogs is to move toward the mandrel rather than to move away from it. With the particular arrangement shown, it will be apparent that the pivots 2|2 are closer to the axis of the mandrel than is the major portion of the free flanged edge 2| 3 of the dog and therefore when the clamp is drawn to the right the normal tendency of the dogs 2|0, even independently of the springs 2M, is to swing about these pivots causing the free 5 anged edges of the dogs to swing inwardly and engage behind the edge of a preformed cylindrical paper blank. l

It may be observed that the bracket members 200 are bevelled, as at 2| 6, to provide clearance for the slight swinging movement of the dogs incidental to the outward movement of the free ends of the latter as the clamp is moved to the left in Fig. 17 and the bevelled edges 2|5 of the anges 2|3 ride outwardly over a new blank to be engaged. These drag clamps serve two functions. One is to engage the last formed cylindrical blank and advance the entire line of blanks along the mandrel. 'Ihe other is to retain the entire line of blanks against retrograde movement 20 under the pressure of the cap applying and cap spinning or crimping mechanism. The purpose of the springs 214 is to hold the dogs securely in position behind the edges of the last blank so that the line of blanks will not be moved backwardly during the insertion and spinning over of the cap in the end of the foremost blank.

In other words, even 'independently olf the springs 215 the pivotal mounting alTorded by the pairs of ears 29E-209 and the pairs of ears 2| l 30 would insure inward movement of the clutching ends of the dogs to engage and advance the line of blanks and the springs serve primarily to hold the clamps in position to resist a rearward thrust on the line of blanks.

The stationary seam clamp (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 19 and 20) As a completely formed and folded blank is drawn endwise along the mandrel out from under the presser foot 6| it passes immediately under an elongated seam clamp, which exerts pressure on the overlapped and adhesively secured edges of the blank during vtravel of the blank from its forming to its lling position. This clamp is in the form of an elongated downwardly facing channel member 2|1. Arranged in the mouth of this channel are the clamping bars 2|8 and a series of coiled expansion springs 2|9 disposed in the channel reactagainst the bottom thereof and press downwardly on the bars 2|8 serving to maintain the same under tension and pressed against the seams or overlapped portions of the cylindrical blanks. The channel piece is carried by an arm'220, the latter being pivoted to an upstanding bracket 22| fixed upon the main framework of the machine. The arm 225 may swing about its pivot 222 ina clockwisedirection (Fig. 19) to an extent limited by the engagement of a boss 223 on the arm with a corresponding boss 225 on the bracket. Those portions of the bracket and the arm which are pivotally connected together are bifurcated, as clearly seen in Fig. 20, anda slot 225 in the arm communicates with the furcation 226 therein.

In order to position the channel piece 2|1 correctly and to hold it rmly against elevation, a screw 221 is pivoted on a cross pin 228 extending through the bifurcated portion of the bracket. The free end of this screw may be swung into the notch 225 and a nut 229 screwed onto the end of this screw and against a boss 230 on the upper surface of the arm firmly clamps the arm against pivotal movement. The purpose of this construction is firstly, to inhibit upward movement of the channel piece 2|1 while the machine is in operation and secondly, to permit the entire channel piece with its springs 2|9 and presser bars 2|8 to be bodily swung out of the way in order to gain Preventing rotation of blanks during crimping or spinning Pivotally mounted upon an extension of channel member 2H is a clamp element 23|, the principal purpose of which is to restrain a filled blank or container from rotation during the time that the cap is being spun into position. The clamp 23| is of generally arcuate cross section to embrace the top of the mandrel and is yieldingly pressed against the top of the tube, section 51 by a spring plunger 232. This plunger working in a socket 233 in the clamp element 23| in normally pressed toward the channel piece 2|1 by coiled expansion spring 231i and since the channel piece definitely limits the spring-urged movement of the plunger toward the left (Fig. 3) the net result of the effort of the spring is to swing the clamp element 23| about its pivot 230 and against the blanks which are passing over the tube section 51.

As will be observed from the sectional view of this clamp (Fig. 22) the clamp is provided with a longitudinally extending inlaid bar 235 presenting on its inner face a shoulder 236 to be abutted by the exposed edge of the outermost layer of the overlapped and adhesively connected seam of the cylindrical blank. Any tendency of the cylindrical blank to rotate with the spinning or crimping head is blocked by the abutment of the exposed seam edge against the shoulder 236 so that the filled and' capped blank is secured against rotation during the cap spinning operation.

Cap blank magazine and cap forming and applying mechanism (Figs. 1 to 3, 23 to 26, 29 to 31) The magazine which holds the cap blanks to be applied to the individual filled cylindrical cartons, includes a generally trough-shaped cap blank receiving portion 250. As best seen in Figs. 24 and 26 the trough 252 may be an integral part of the main frame of the machine and extends longitudinally of the machine and is laterally offset and disposed somewhat above the discharge end of the filler tube. The circulargcap blanks 25| are stacked on edge in the trough and the entire series of blanks are urged 'against an abutment plate 252 at one end of the trough. One suitable mechanism for this purpose includes a follower vmember 253 provided with rollers 254 which travel in guideways 255 in the sides of the track. A counterweight 256 is suspended on the end of a ilexibledevice 251 and this device is led over suitable pulleys 258 and 259, then rearwardly through a groove 250 at the bottom of the trough at which point it is connected to the follower as at rss (Fig. 24).

A Immediately adjacent the abutment plate 252 the trough is provided with a. -slot 262 through which the foremost cap blank of the series is adapted to be urged downwardly into the cap applying mechanism. To effect this downward movement of one cap of the stack there is provided a pusher 263 slidably mounted in an upward extension 265 of the abutment plate 252.

Preferably the crimper mechanism controls the actuation of 'the slide member. A bracket 265 rising from the main frame of the machine mounts a short transverse shaft 266 and fixed upon said shaft is a lever 261 having its forked end 268 engaged with a roller 269 carried by bracket 210 which is fixed to the upper end of the pusher 263. Shaft 266 carries a crank arm 21| affording an arcuate rack 212 at its free end,

this rack meshing with an idler gear 213 and the idler gear meshing with a rack 214, the movement of which is controlled from the carriage 14 of the crimping mechanism.

A coiled torsional spring 215 anchored to the 15 bracket 265 normally tends to swing the arm 21| in counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 1) and through the gear 213 to shift the rack 214 to the left and through the shaft 266 to swing the lever arm 261 downwardly, thereby moving the pusher 263 downwardly to wipe a cap blank from the forward end of the series of caps in the magazine. 'Ihis spring actuated movement of the cap blank delivery mechanism however is normally blocked by the engagement of a lug 216 on the rack 214 with a stop lug 211 forming a fixed part of the carriage of the crimping mechanism. Thus the lever 261 is only free to swing downwardly under the influence of the spring 215 at such times as the crimping carriage shifts to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1. The importance of spring actuating the cap blank ejecting follower is the fact that if the cap blank should jam it will oppose sucient resistance to the spring actuated ejector mechanism to immediately block downward movement of the follower and the stalling of this mechanism will immediately become apparent to an operative who can stop the machine and remove the single damaged cap blank. Even if the operative failed immediately to notice this failure of the cap applying mechanism, the worst that could happen would be the delivery of a few filled but uncapped packages of ice cream. The return movement of the cap blank actuating mechanism is of course positively effected by rack 214 which is positively shifted by the lug 211 in the crimper carriage.

The means for receiving the cap blanks, transferring them into axial-alignment with the filled containers and forcing them home into the mouths of these containers includes a carriage 218 slidable in a transverse trackway 219. Fig. 29 illustrates in full and dotted lines the two limit positions of this carriage, one directly under the cap blank magazine and the other in direct axial alignment with the lled container.

With particular reference to Figs. 3, 24, 29 and 30, it will be observed that there is disposed trans- -fversely of this carriage a cylindrical bushing or sleeve 280 which at one end flares out to aiord a flange 28| having a cup-shaped depression 282 therein, the latter being adapted to receive a head 283 of the cap applying plunger 284 which slides within the sleeve 280. Secured against the flange 28| is a circular forming die 285 having Y a central opening 286 therein of lesser diameter ,than the cap blanks. With the cap applying plunger retracted the blanks delivered from the cap magazine pass downwardly through a slot 281'betw`een Athe plunger head 283 and the die 285. As the plunger shifts to the left (see Fig. 3)

the plunger head forces the cap blank through the die, flangingthe periphery of the blank and forcing the anged cap into the mouth of the container. The extreme edge of this container already lies within a tapered recess 288 formed in the non-working face of the circular die 285. 'Ihis tapered recess aids in centering the die with respect to the containeras the die is shifted to the left (Fig. 3) and just before the cap is rammed home.

Means is provided for intermittentlypositively reciprocating the plunger 284 and means is also provided for intermittently shifting the carriage member 218 from one extremev position to the other along the trackway 219. One suitable mechanism for effecting the desired plunger ref ciprocation includes a shaft 289 extending axially of the carriage 218 and having bearings at 290 in this carriage said carriage being preferably elongated and hollow. Keyed upon the shaft 289 is a crank arm 29| the forked end 292 of which extends upwardly into a slot 293 in the piston and straddles a cross pin 294 extending across the slot. Thus as ythe crank arm 29| is rocked. by the shaft 290 the plunger 284 is reciprocated. A crank arm 295 is provided at one end with a hub portion 296 keyed as at 291 to an end of the shaft 289. This hub portion fits within an eye 299 fixed with respect to the main frame of the machine. 'Ihe hub 296 is locked against axial movement with respect to the encircling eye 299 in order to permit the shaft 289 to slide through the hub as the carriage 218 is shifted back and forth along its trackway 219.

Fig. 30 illustrates the means for rocking the crank arm 295 to oscillate shaft 289 and thereby reciprocate plunger 284. Such means may conveniently include a link 300 pivotally connected at one end to the free end of the crank 295 and pivoted at its other end to the end of a lever 30| said lever being fulcrumed intermediate its ends on a fixed part of the cam housing and its free end carrying a roller 302 travelling in a suitable groove 303 in the cam 44. This same cam may also control the reciprocating movement of the slide 218, this being accomplished by means of a roller 304 working in a peripheral groove 305 in the cam 44. Roller 304 is carried by the4 end of a crank 305, this mounted on shaft 306 journalled in a bracket 301 pendant within the cam housing and a second crank arm 308 fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 306 has its upper bifurcated end 309 pivotally connected to a link 3|0, the opposite end of this link having a pivotal connection at 3|| with a bracket 3|2 fixed to the bottom of the carriage 218. The bottom of the carriage track is cut away at 3|3 to accommodate for movement of the bracket 3|2 from the full line to the dotted line position of Fig. 29.

The operation of this cap applying mechanism will be more or less apparent from the foregoing description. The carriage is shifted to a position under the cap magazine where the cap blank is delivered between the forming die and the plunger head. It is then shifted into axial alignment with the oncoming filled package and at the proper moment the plunger moves forward forcing the cap blank through the die to flange it and thrust it into the mouth of the container. Thereupon the plunger withdraws and the carriage slides back into position under the cap magazine.

The crimping mechanism (Figs. 1, 2, 31 and 36) The carriage 14 of the crimping mechanism is slidable back and forth in a trackway 3|4 dis- 

